2018 Saint Francis Cougars football team

2018 Saint Francis Cougars football
NAIA Semifinal, L 28–34 OT at Morningside
Conference	Mid-States Football Association
Division	Mideast League
Record	10–3 (4–2 MSFA (MEL))
Head coach	Kevin Donley (21st season)
Co-offensive coordinators	Patrick Donley (15th season) Trevor Miller (13th season)
Co-defensive coordinators	Joey Didier (9th season) Eric Wagoner (11th season)
Home stadium	Bishop John M. D'Arcy Stadium
Seasons ←  2017 2019  →

2018 Mid-States Football Association standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Mideast League
No. 9 Marian (IN) x^		6	–	0					10	–	1
No. 6 Concordia (MI) ^		5	–	1					10	–	3
No. 3 Saint Francis (IN) ^		4	–	2					10	–	3
No. 25 Siena Heights		3	–	3					7	–	3
Missouri Baptist		2	–	4					4	–	7
Taylor		1	–	5					3	–	7
Lindenwood–Belleville		0	–	6					0	–	11
Midwest League
No. 7 Saint Xavier x^		5	–	0					9	–	4
Olivet Nazarene		4	–	1					5	–	5
St. Ambrose		3	–	2					6	–	4
St. Francis (IL)		2	–	3					4	–	7
Robert Morris (IL)		1	–	4					2	–	9
Trinity International		0	–	5					1	–	9
x – League champion/co-champions ^ – NAIA playoff participant Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll

The 2018 Saint Francis Cougars football team represented the University of Saint Francis as a member of the Mideast League (MEL) in the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) during the 2018 NAIA football season. Led by 21st-year head coach Kevin Donley, the Cougars compiled an overall record of with a 10–3 with a mark of 4–2 oin conference player placing third in the MSFA MEL. Saint Francis advanced to the 2018 NAIA football national championship playoff, where the Cougars defeated Grand View in the first round and Baker in the quarterfinals before losing to the eventual national champion, Morningside, in the semifinals. The team played home games at Bishop John M. D'Arcy Stadium in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
August 25	6:00pm	Robert Morris (IL) *	No. 1	Bishop John M. D'Arcy Stadium Fort Wayne, IN	W 42–9	3,700
September 8	4:00pm	at St. Francis (IL) *	No. 1	ATI Field at Joliet Memorial Stadium Joliet, IL	W 49–19	1,003
September 15	12:00pm	St. Ambrose *	No. 1	Bishop John M. D'Arcy Stadium Fort Wayne, IN	W 60–14	3,250
September 22	2:00pm	at No. 20 Saint Xavier *	No. 1	Deaton Field Chicago, IL	W 27–19	2,500
September 29	6:00pm	No. 6 Marian (IN)	No. 1	Bishop D'Arcy Stadium Fort Wayne, IN (Franciscan Bowl)	L 28–37	4,579
October 6	1:00pm	at No. 14 Concordia (MI)	No. 5	Cardinal Stadium Ann Arbor, MI	L 3–7	1,750
October 13	12:00pm	No. 20 Siena Heights	No. 13	Bishop John M. D'Arcy Stadium Fort Wayne, IN	W 22–19 OT	4,133
October 20	12:00pm	Missouri Baptist	No. 12	Bishop John M. D'Arcy Stadium Fort Wayne, IN	W 51–7	2,567
October 27	2:00pm	at Lindenwood–Belleville	No. 9	Lindenwood Stadium Belleville, IL	W 64–25	961
November 3	1:00pm	at Taylor	No. 9	Turner Stadium Upland, IN	W 40–20	1,873
November 17	12:00pm	No. 10 Grand View *	No. 8	Bishop John M. D'Arcy Stadium Fort Wayne, IN (NAIA First Round)	W 34–3	2,789
November 24	12:00pm	No. 12 Baker *	No. 8	Bishop John M. D'Arcy Stadium Fort Wayne, IN (NAIA Quarterfinal)	W 33–23	2,173
December 1	1:00pm	at No. 1 Morningside *	No. 8	Elwood Olsen Stadium Sioux City, IA (NAIA Semifinal)	L 28–34 OT	2,000	[1]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from NAIA Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

^[2]

Rankings

The team appeared in the NAIA Coaches' polls throughout the season, beginning ranked No. 1 for multiple weeks and finishing at No. 3. ^[3]

Awards and honors

• Senior linebacker Pierce Harnish was a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy. ^{[4] [5]}

References

1. Barry Poe (December 2, 2018). "Dramatic victory sends Mustangs to title game". Sioux City Journal. pp. D1, D5 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "2018‑19 Football Schedule". University of Saint Francis Athletics. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
3. "2018 NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Poll — Postseason (Dec. 18)". National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. December 18, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
4. Hayes, Reggie (November 9, 2018). "USF linebacker Piercen Harnish earns high honor". University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
5. "NFF Proudly Announces Finalists for 2018 William V. Campbell Trophy". National Football Foundation. October 31, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018.